1. Die Hard
   Unbreakable
2. 12 Monkeys
   Sin City

Director John McTiernan was behind the very first "Die Hard" movie, starring Bruce Willis in the role that made him a certified action star. Alan Rickman was also unforgettable here as his nemesis, Hans Gruber. "Shoot the glass!" was one of his classic villainous lines.

1. Police Academy
   Training Day
2. Lethal Weapon
   Serpico

Action movies have many sub-genres within its umbrella category, and the buddy movie and/or the buddy cop tandem are but two of these subs. That's where "Lethal Weapon" belongs, since it's both a buddy film and a good cop/bad cop tandem film as well.

1. Aliens
   Avatar
2. Ghostbusters
   Galaxy Quest

"Alien" was actually the first film to feature Sigourney Weaver in an action-packed sci-fi film, but that was released in 1979. We saw more action from her as she reprised her role in 1986's "Aliens" sequel. The first film was directed by Ridley Scott while the second was directed by James Cameron.

1. The Terminator
   The Running Man
2. Predator
   Total Recall

"The Terminator" sci-fi action franchise began with the first film in 1984, starring a villainous Arnold Schwarzenegger in the titular role. But in the later sequels, Arnie became a good android, starting with 1991's "Terminator 2: Judgment Day."

1. First Blood
   The Expendables
2. Cobra
   Commando

John Rambo is one of the most unforgettable action heroes to come out of the silver screen during the '80s, starting with the first film, "First Blood." This 1982 film was followed by a sequel in 1985, then the third was released in 1988. Rambo was played by none other than Sylvester Stallone.

1. Escape From New York
   Big Trouble in Little China
2. Mortal Kombat
   The Golden Child

The 1986 action film called "Big Trouble in Little China" actually featured a storyline set in the Chinatown area of San Francisco, California. It's also a comedy and it starred Kurt Russell and Kim Cattrall.

1. Enter The Dragon
   Karate Kid
2. Bloodsport
   American Ninja

The 1988 film called "Bloodsport" featured a fighting Jean-Claude Van Damme, and he is one of the certified Hollywood action stars to have some martial arts background training in life. He was actually active in karate competitions in his native land of Belgium before giving acting a try.

1. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
   Raiders of the Lost Ark
2. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
   Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

Steven Spielberg's 1981 action comedy adventure film, "Raiders of the Lost Ark," was the first movie that introduced Harrison Ford in his now iconic role of Indiana Jones. Being an archaeology professor going on worldwide adventures never looked so attractive before this film came out.

1. Crocodile Dundee
   Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome
2. Babe
   The Man From Snowy River

Actor Mel Gibson was the original Max in the Australian-made "Mad Max" movies, one of the roles that made him a globally recognized action hero. "Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome" is the third film in this post-apocalyptic series, and Tina Turner co-starred with him.

1. Exit Wounds
   Kill Switch
2. Fire Down Below
   Above The Law

Steven Seagal made a mark as an action hero who can also do martial arts moves. He showed his action prowess in films like "Fire Down Below (1997), "Exit Woulds" (2001), and "Kill Switch" (2008). He also demonstrated this extensively in "Above The Law" (1988).

1. A View to a Kill
   From Russia with Love
2. Goldfinger
   Diamonds Are Forever

The 1985 James Bond film, "A View to a Kill," featured Roger Moore in one of his James Bond duties. The iconic Grace Jones co-starred with him as May Day, a very powerful villain. '80s musical icon Duran Duran performed its catchy theme song.

1. The Untouchables
   The Cotton Club
2. Prizzi's Honor
   Married to the Mob

The 1987 gangster film, "The Untouchables," featured the story of Elliot Ness and Al Capone that happened during the 1930s. Brian De Palma directed this one, with Kevin Costner essaying the role of Ness and Robert De Niro playing Capone.

1. Lone Wolf McQuade
   Sidekicks
2. Good Guys Wear Black
   Forest Warrior

The 1983 action film, "Lone Wolf McQuade," featured two action heroes who are also martial artists: Chuck Norris and David Carradine. Norris played the titular role who is a Texas Ranger.

1. The Phantom Menace
   Attack of the Clones
2. The Empire Strikes Back
   Revenge of the Sith

The second film from the "Star Wars" saga came out in 1980. It was called "The Empire Strikes Back." Unlike the first film, director Irvin Kershner helmed this one while the script was written by Leigh Brackett and Lawrence Kasdan. George Lucas previously handled those two jobs, but the story remains his.

1. Smokey and the Bandit 2
   Beverly Hills Cop
2. The Blues Brothers
   The Naked Gun

The successful 1977 film, "Smokey and the Bandit," had an equally successful sequel called "Smokey and the Bandit 2" released in 1980. It still starred Burt Reynolds in the lead, and was an action comedy hit.

1. The Cannonball Run
   Chariots of Fire
2. Speed Zone
   Safari 3000

Action comedy films can also be star-studded, like the 1981 film, "The Cannonball Run." The famous faces in this film include Burt Reynolds, Farah Fawcett, Roger Moore, Dom DeLuise, Jackie Chan, Dean Martin, and Sammy Davis Jr., to name a few.

1. Coming to America
   Beverly Hills Cop
2. Trading Places
   Harlem Nights

Comedian Eddie Murphy became a certified global movie star with the release of the action-comedy film, "Beverly Hills Cop," in 1984. He essayed the role of Axel Foley here, and the film's instrumental soundtrack song was also called "Axel F."

1. Labyrinth
   The Princess Bride
2. The Beastmaster
   Willow

"The Beastmaster" is about a boy who grew up to become a warrior, and he has the ability to communicate with animals. The 1982 fantasy action film starred famous actors of that era, such as Marc Singer and Tanya Roberts.

1. Superman II
   Swamp Thing
2. Flash Gordon
   Howard The Duck

"The Godfather" novelist Mario Puzo was one of the co-writers of the "Superman II" film released in 1980, under the direction of Richard Lester. The iconic Christopher Reeve gave life to the titular role of Superman during those years, and his portrayal remains a classic one.

1. Full Metal Jacket
   Platoon
2. Commando
   Born on the Fourth of July

A young Alyssa Milano played the daughter of Arnold Schwarzenegger's character in the 1985 film, "Commando." Canadian actor Rae Dawn Chong and Australian actor Vernon Wells also appeared here.

1. Escape from New York
   Blade Runner
2. Akira
   Brazil

The 1981 film called "Escape From New York" featured a futuristic sci-fi action story that's set in 1997. Kurt Russell essayed the anti-hero role of Snake Plissken here, and he reprised this role in "Escape From L.A.," too.

1. The Godfather
   Scent of a Woman
2. Dog Day Afternoon
   Scarface

One of Al Pacino's most unforgettable roles is that of Tony Montana, the Cuban immigrant who rose to the top of the Miami underworld and became a feared drug lord. His story was seen in the 1983 crime movie, "Scarface," directed by Brian De Palma. Michelle Pfeiffer co-starred with Pacino.

1. Cliffhanger
   Cobra
2. Tango & Cash
   Over The Top

Another buddy cop action comedy film that came out of the '80s is the 1989 film called "Tango & Cash." The buddies featured in this film, Raymond Tango and Gabriel Cash, were played by Sylvester Stallone and Kurt Russell.

1. Red Sun
   The Last Samurai
2. Enter The Warriors Gate
   American Ninja

One of the action stars who actively made a lot of action movies during the '80s and '90s is Michael Dudikoff, who starred in the 1985 film, "American Ninja." Hollywood also had a fascination with ninjas back then. That's why the film had this theme and title.

1. The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
   Unforgiven
2. Sudden Impact
   For A Few Dollars More

The 1983 action film, "Sudden Impact," is the fourth time that Clint Eastwood portrayed the role of Inspector Harry Callahan, a.k.a. Dirty Harry. It was in this film that he uttered the iconic line, "Go ahead, make my day." He also directed and produced this film.

1. The Thing
   The Last Starfighter
2. Predator
   They Live

"Die Hard" director John McTiernan also directed action films that were sci-fi bent, and "Predator" was one of them. This 1987 film produced many sequels, making this into another film franchise. There was even a crossover series called "Alien vs. Predator" during the 2000s.

1. Diamonds are Forever
   Never Say Never Again
2. Octopussy
   You Only Live Twice

The 1983 James Bond film, "Never Say Never Again," was Sean Connery's last time playing 007. It was his seventh James Bond film. Some of his co-stars in the film include Kim Basinger, Max von Sydow, Barbara Carrera, and Rowan Atkinson.

1. Hamburger Hill
   Apocalypse Now
2. The Deer Hunter
   Taxi Driver

War movies aren't automatically action movies, but 1987's "Hamburger Hill" was definitely an action-packed Vietnam War-set movie. It was based on real-life events that happened to an American battalion during that war.

1. Highlander
   Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes
2. The Sicilian
   Mortal Kombat

The 1986 film, "Highlander," catapulted French actor Christopher Lambert into international stardom as he essayed the role of Scottish immortal swordsman Connor MacLeod. Scottish actor Sean Connery also co-starred in this film. The highly popular film was later made into a TV series.

1. Tron
   Street Fighter
2. Super Mario Bros.
   Double Dragon

The 1982,"Tron," starred Jeff Bridges. A sequel to this film in 2010, "Tron: Legacy," also had Jeff Bridges in it. In that film, he appeared as both his older self and his younger self, thanks to some sci-fi cinematic magic.

1. Black Hawk Down
   Blue Thunder
2. Apocalypse Now
   Airwolf

The 1983 film called "Blue Thunder" is an action thriller directed by John Badham who also directed other action thrillers, like "Point of No Return" and "Nick of Time." The film starred Roy Scheider, Daniel Stern, and Malcolm McDowell, to name a few.

1. The Delta Force
   Operation Thunderbolt
2. Executive Decision
   Con Air

Chuck Norris and Lee Marvin co-starred in the 1986 action-packed film, "The Delta Force." It turned out to be Marvin's last film role, since he died a year after its release. Both Norris and Marvin served in the military in real life.

1. Death Wish
   The Magnificent Seven
2. The Dirty Dozen
   10 to Midnight

Charles Bronson made many action movies since the '50s, such as "Death Wish" (1974), "The Magnificent Seven" (1960), and "The Dirty Dozen" (1967), to name a few. He was also active in the '80s, with this 1983 film called "10 to Midnight" as one of the films he made in that decade.

1. Hercules
   Clash of the Titans
2. Xanadu
   Black Orpheus

Perseus was the Greek mythological hero who took center stage in "Clash of the Titans." This 1981 version had "L.A. Law" TV star Harry Hamlin as Perseus, with Laurence Olivier in the role of Zeus and Ursula Andress as Aphrodite.

1. Ultraviolet
   Aeon Flux
2. Tomb Raider
   Red Sonja

Marvel Comics has a fierce female warrior character in the form of Red Sonja, and her story got featured in the 1985 film version called "Red Sonja," starred Brigitte Nielsen in the titular role. Kiddie martial artist Ernie Reyes Jr. also co-starred, along with Arnold Schwarzenegger.

1. The Shawshank Redemption
   King Solomon's Mines
2. The NeverEnding Story
   Eragon

The 1885 novel, "King Solomon's Mines," featured the life of adventurer Allan Quatermain. It was made into a movie many times, but the 1985 film version became something of a parody of the novel's story. This action adventure comedy version starred Richard Chamberlain in the titular role.

1. Batman
   RoboCop
2. The Punisher
   Condorman

With so many Batman films made, Tim Burton's 1989 version simply called "Batman" stylized the comic book look of this superhero action film, jumpstarting renewed interest in the superhero genre. Michael Keaton was memorable as Batman, but Jack Nicholson stole the show with his Joker portrayal.

1. GoldenEye
   Tomorrow Never Dies
2. The World is Not Enough
   Licence to Kill

Timothy Dalton's last James Bond role was for the 1989 film, "Licence to Kill." Pierce Brosnan took over that role during the '90s, starting with 1995's "GoldenEye" and ending his turn with 2002's "Die Another Day."

1. Iron Eagle
   Das Boot
2. Good Morning, Vietnam
   Gallipoli

Louis Gossett Jr. and Jason Gedrick starred in the 1986 military-themed action film, "Iron Eagle." They played the role of pilots, but Gossett's role was the one who had military training in the story. This film produced three more sequels.

1. No Retreat, No Surrender
   Armour of God
2. Police Story
   Dragon Lord

Hong Kong cinema is known for producing iconic martial arts films, or what the west called kung-fu films. One of this genre's known directors, Corey Yuen, tried crossing over to Hollywood by directing "No Retreat, No Surrender" in 1986. It starred real-life martial artist Jean-Claude Van Damme.